Armenian Bloggers Demand Ernest Vardanyan's Release

A group of Armenian bloggers gathered in front of the building of the Russian embassy in Armenia today protesting against the arrest of the Transdnestria-based Armenian national journalist Ernest Vardanyan.

Today is Ernest Vardanyan's birthday: he became 30 years old.

"This picket was organized on the occasion of Ernest Vardanyan's arrest, it has been organized by bloggers who know Ernest and his friends, and today is Ernest's 30th anniversary, and we have to express our opinion, our approach and to try to prevent the wide-spread injustice," one of the participants told Tert.am who presented herself as Arev - his blog nickname.

She also said that they had sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, as well as to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and are going to hand a copy of the letter also to Russia's Embassy and the UN office in Armenia.

"First of all we are demanding that Ernest Vardanyan's rights be defended as his arrest took place unlawfully. Secondly, he is deprived all of his rights, i.e. he does not have a lawyer. Eventually, he must be set free, as he has in no way been explained why he was arrested," said Arev.

Ernest Vardanyan was arrested near his home in Tiraspol on April 7 allegedly by the Transdnestrian state secrete services. He is accused of high treason and according to Article 271 of the Transdnestrian Criminal Code he can face 12-20 years in prison if found guilty.